CRIME WATCH

The Baltimore Sun

Baltimore man convicted of rape

A 30-year-old man was convicted yesterday of raping a woman nearly four years ago in West Baltimore and could receive life plus 10 years in prison at a sentencing scheduled for March 20, city prosecutors said.

The defendant, Erskine Jones of the 2400 block of N. Calvert St., faces five other rape charges in connection with separate attacks, prosecutors said. Jurors deliberated for about five hours before finding him guilty .

Police said Jones raped a woman in the 300 block of Dolphin St. on May 16, 2003, after threatening to kill her with a gun he claimed to have. Prosecutors said the suspect was identified in November 2004 with DNA evidence and that the victim later picked Jones out of a photo lineup.

In addition to first-degree rape, Jones was convicted of third- and fourth-degree sex offenses and second-degree assault.

10 years in fatal shooting

A 28-year-old Columbia man convicted of fatally shooting a 20-year-old Savage man during a fight last year was sentenced in Howard County Circuit Court yesterday to 10 years in prison.

Michael Dean Jackson Jr. was charged with shooting Anthony James Owen-Smith at least six times with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun during an altercation June 23 near Jackson's residence. The shooting stemmed from a fight that evening at Kings Contrivance Village Center involving dozens of young adults, according to testimony during Jackson's trial in January. The jury found Jackson guilty of voluntary manslaughter but acquitted him of the more serious charges of first- and second-degree murder.